IBUF vs IJAN: which one stands where?

As of Oct 1, 2026 IJAN can fall 6.5% before its buffer engages and IBUF 0.0%. Innovator International Developed 10 Buffer ETF™ - Quarterly and Innovator Intl Developed Power Buffer ETF - Jan.

0.0%
IBUF can fall this far before its buffer
6.5%
IJAN can fall this far before its buffer
4.0%
IBUF can still gain
6.5%
IJAN can still gain
IBUFBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capIBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.0%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts of buffer+4% to cap−10.0% floor0% period start+4.0% capTODAY · EFA 0.0%Between buffer and capIBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.0%; Between buffer and cap.10 pts−10.0% floor0% start+4.0% capTODAY · EFA 0.0%

IBUF: reference 0.0% since period start, fund 0.0%; buffer 0 to −10; cap +4.0%; Between buffer and cap.

IJANBetween buffer and cap
Between buffer and capIJAN: reference +8.2% since period start, fund +6.2%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+8.2% gain captured+5.6% to cap−15.0% floor0% period start+13.8% capTODAY · EFA +8.2%Between buffer and capIJAN: reference +8.2% since period start, fund +6.2%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap.15 pts of buffer+8.2%−15.0% floor0% start+13.8% capTODAY · EFA +8.2%

IJAN: reference +8.2% since period start, fund +6.2%; buffer 0 to −15; cap +13.8%; Between buffer and cap.

ETFIQ Downside Cover Score · IJAN scores higherIf the market falls into a bear market from here, how much does the buffer absorb?
0.2, the lowest in this set99.8, the highest

A percentile among the 293 buffer ETFs with a live outcome period. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All buffer ETFs ranked by it → How it is computed →

Both are Innovator funds, so the difference between them is the terms rather than the house.

Where each one stands today

IBUF resets first, on Dec 31, 2026, 92 days from now; IJAN runs to Dec 31, 2026, 92 days. IBUF can still gain 4.0% before its cap, IJAN 6.5%. A fall from here reaches IBUF’s buffer after 0.0% and IJAN’s after 6.5%. Both track EFA, so what separates them is where each is in its own period.

Every figure is ETFIQ’s own, from the issuer’s published outcome-period terms. A buffer ETF holds FLEX options on its reference index rather than shares, so there is no holdings overlap between two of them to report.

Performance, window by window

Total returnGap to the reference
WindowIBUFIJANIBUFIJAN
3 months−0.1%+1.3%−0.9 pts+0.5 pts
6 months+5.5%+5.3%−1.6 pts−1.7 pts
1 year+10.2%+9.2%−4.9 pts−5.9 pts
3 yearsnot published+37.9%not published−27.8 pts

IBUF and IJAN over each window. Every figure is an ETFIQ calculation with distributions reinvested. Source: ETFIQ. Open the live comparison on ETFIQ →

On the same fields

IBUF
Innovator International Developed 10 Buffer ETF™ - Quarterly · Absorbs the first 10% of loss on EFA and caps the gain at 4.0%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
IJAN
Innovator Intl Developed Power Buffer ETF - Jan · Absorbs the first 15% of loss on EFA and caps the gain at 13.8%, over a period ending Dec 31, 2026
Issuer Innovator Innovator
Reference index EFA EFA
Buffer 10% 15%
Outcome period Sep 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 Dec 31, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026
Days left 92 92
Starting cap +4.0% +13.8%
Can still gain 4.0% 6.5%
Fall before buffer 0.0% 6.5%
Protection left, index points 10.0% of 10.0% 15.0% of 15.0%
Index return this period 0.0% +8.2%
Fund return this period 0.0% +6.2%
State today Open Open
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.85%
Net assets $114m $232m

IBUF and IJAN on the same fields, as of Oct 1, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

IBUF in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 4.0% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's EFA level. 92 days remained on Oct 1, 2026. On Dec 31, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.

IJAN in plain words

From its price on Oct 1, 2026, the fund can gain about 6.5% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 6.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, EFA can fall 7.6% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's EFA level.

Questions people ask

Which has more room to gain, IBUF or IJAN?
From their prices on Oct 1, 2026, IBUF can gain about 4.0% before its cap and IJAN about 6.5%, so IJAN has more room left this period.
Which resets first, IBUF or IJAN?
IBUF ends its outcome period on Dec 31, 2026 and IJAN on Dec 31, 2026. A new cap is set the day after each.
Which is cheaper, IBUF or IJAN?
IBUF charges 0.85% a year and IJAN charges 0.85%, so IBUF is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where these figures came from

ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this page

ETFIQ, IBUF against IJAN, data as of Oct 1, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/buffer/ibuf-vs-ijan

Open data

Free to use with attribution. Every figure is calculated from a named public source; the method is at etfiq.com/methodology.